Hudson maxim



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIUDsoN MAXIM, or NEW venir, N. Y., ANDl PHILIP n. ALGEEyoETH'E UNITED sTATEs NAVY.

DEIONATING FusE';

SPECIFIOATTDN forming' part of Letters Patent No. 549,072, dated October 29, 1895,@

ippumion ma my emacs.

.To all whom it my concern: I Be it known that we, HUDSON MAXIM, of

the city, county, and State of New York, and,

APHILIP R. ALGER, of theUnited States Navy,

citizens of the UnitedStates, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Det# onating Fuses, of whichthe following is a specification. 'r'

The present invention relates particularly xo to that class of fuses employed for the detonation of shells containing a charge of high or` other explosives.

lThe principal object of the invention is to provide means by whichdhe charge of the r 5 shell is protected from any accidental or premature explosion of the detonating material.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the fuse is prevented 4 from detonatingimmediately upon the occurae rence of the'shock of retardation arising from the striking of the shellnpon the armor, em bank ment, or other target, and by which such detonation and the explosion of the shellis delayed until' the' armor or target has been z5 penetrated, and by which, at the same time, the charge of the shell is protected from any premature explosion of the fuse.

A further object of the invention is to relieve the movable portion of the fuse or `the fuse charge' as far as possible from any resistance when it has been set in forward motion relative to `the shell to effect the explo= s iono'f the' same.

A fnrtherobject of the invention is te cate the fusev charge normally outside the shell or powd or charge and permit it to travel forward into the powdercharge upon the retardation of the shell preliminarily to its det- 'onation.

' "ith such objects consists ina shell the base or other suitable portion of which, carrying or containing the fuse, is so constructed as to he weaker and tobe burst more readily (provided the fuse charge 'be-in its normal pesiion) than is that part of the shell or fuse carrier which separates the fuse from the explosive charge of the shell; but when the fuse charge has, by the retardation of the shell, been shifted to that position in'view the invention sereno. escasa. on man.)

in whieh itis intended tobe detonated the inclosing' portion Vof its carrier, which at such time and in'snchposition separates it from the charge' of the shell, will be weaker and more readily burst than that part of the said the atmosphere. I Y

The invention further consists in a herwhich the forward end of the fuseV chargf'is relieved from resistance by groovingthe container or the casing of the fuse charge to allow the backward passage of air past the fuse charge or by producing and maintaining a vacuum or partial vacuum in the container, or by both of euch means.

The invention further consists in the parts -forth and claimed;

clearly understood there are shown in the it into practical eEect without limiting. the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the sakeof illustration, have been delineated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1l is a longitudinal sectional view of ashell and fuse embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale, the forward portion of invention.

Referring to the drawings, A'indicates the body of the shell or projectile, which may be of any usual or preferred form. It contains an interior space or chamberB for the powder charge.

C is the base of the shell, screwed into the end thereof or otherwise secured thereto.

The fuse container, carrier, or tube is shown the base C and extending forward into the shell-cha1nber B. The predetermined length carrier which separates the fuse charge from.

Such being the geneal nature of theinvention, in order to make* the same more or explosive charge, herein termed the shell at D, preferably formed with or carried by of this tube within the limits of the shell will govern the interval of time between the strik- 'i metically-sealed fuse carrier orcontaginerY in.

and combinations thereof hereinafter set accompanying drawings means for carrying A8o 'the shell being-omitted, showing another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is a simi-V lar view showing another embodiment of the around the head of the base serves to more effectually occlnde its joint with the shellbody against penetration by the propellinggases of the gun. i

E is the fuse charge, comprisingadetonab' ingr material in a suitable casing, which'is adaptedtoslide in the tube I). It is held its normal rearmost position, as seen in Fi l, by one or incre pins or stopsg of such softness or weakness as to be readily sheared by the fuse charge acting underits inertia upon the retardation of the shell. When the fuse charge thus frees itself and strikes the forward end of the tube D, it is detonated bya pinf, fixed in the latter. e The stop g may be situated in front of the fuse charge or may engage a .groove l in its easing, as in Fig. 2.

One of the most convenient means for causing any premature detonation of the fuse bharge while it is in its normal or outermost position in its carrier to' burst outward into the atmosphere and leave intact the shell charge is to greatly strengthen .thefuse'eontainer D at a point in advance of the normal position of the fuse charge, leaving theouter or rear end of such container` relatively weaker'. This may be done, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 ofl the drawings, by surrounding the tube D in advance of its rear end with a thick and solid annulus or body of metal e, leaving the outer en'd d of-the tube comparatively thin and not reinforced. If when the fuse charge is in its normal position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, it should be detonated, it would burst through the part d of its container, leaving the forward portion of the tube and the shell charge intact. The reinforcement e may be integral with the tube D and base C, as'seen in Figs. 1 and 2, or lwith the shell, as in Fig. 3. In Fig. 1 the rear end of the tube is within the shell-base,

and is weakened by forming around it in the base a deep groove h. In Fig. 2 the tube end d is without the base, and is thereby left unreinforced. The end d and behind the reinforcement-Ie, Fig'. 3, and still be within the rear end of the shell. In such case the shell 'base or cap may be sepa.-

rate from the tube and be formed with achamber i, inclosing the end of the latter., Where the end d is thus protected againstaccidental outside blows, it may be made much thinner than when left exposed, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

For the detonating .materalof the fuse it is preferred to employ one which is looal in its effect, acting with great force within and throughout a limited area.

It is desirable that the fuse charge when once started into motion relative to the shell shall meet with as little resistance as possible in its tube D. It air be left in the tube, the

may extend through interior of the latter is formed with a longitudinal 'groove m, through which .the air may pass from in front of the charge E when the latter moves forward. In place of or in connection with the use of the groove m the easing of the charge E may be exteriorly grooved, as shown at n.

With or without the use of the grooves. m 'n or either of them the tube D is exhausted wholly or partially of air from in front ofthe charge E and its frontend hermetically sealed in any Well-known manner. l

In order to better conlin'e, tanip, and'direct forward and outward the force of the fuse Afiharge when and as it is exploded, a follower-j of steel or other metal orsubstance may be ttached to the rear end of the fuse charge,

YVhat is claimed is* il. The combination with a fuse charge, of

a tubeor container therefor,whic h is strengthened or reinforced, and left relatively weaker at its rear end, substantially'as set forth. 2. Afuse containerort e adapted to carry a fuse charge in its rear end and reinforced in advance of the normal position of said fuse charge, substantially as set forth.

.3. The combination with a shell, of a fuse tube or container within the same, and a reinforcement -in advance of the rear end of said container and between the same andthe bodyr of the shell, substantially as set Forth.4

4. -A fuse tube or container for shells provided in advance of its rear end with a closing base for the shell adapted' to reinforce said container, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a shell, and a i" use tube or containerwithin the same, of a fuse charge in said container and adapted to more.

y longitudinally within the same,an d afollower` or tamping device at the rear of said charge and' adapted to'move forward with the same, substantially as set forth.

6. A fuse tube or container, a'detonating charge 'Within the same, and longitudinally movable therein, and means for temporarily vholding said charge at or near the rear end of the container, said container having a vacuum or partial vacuum in its forward end, Substantially as set forth.

7. A fuse tube or container having a deto- Dating charge longitudinally movable therein, said container being adapted'to be attached to a shell and vhaving a vacuum er partial vacuurnin front of said charge, substantially as set forth. l

8. Afuse tube or container adapted to carry a longitudinally movabledetonating charge,l

havinga reinforcement adapted to Vclose the base of a. shell, and formed with a, groove h by which lthe rear, end of the container is weakened, substantially as set forth.`

9. The combination with a shell having n' Space or chamber for an explosive charge, of

ICO

a. fuse tube or container the tube portion of In witnesswhereof we have hereunto signed which extends from without the charge chamour names in the presence of two witnesses.

ber and lshell Vamd thence forward into the charge chamber, and a. fuse chrgefn said HUDSON MAXHYL tube normally-situatedinthat portion of the PHILPl R.4 ALGER@` tube 'exterior of` said charge chamber 'and Witnesses:

4movable from said position to the inner or for- J 0S." STRAUS,

ward portion of the tube, as set forth. '1 A.A. AolgERMAN. 

